Stigma against HIV-infected persons among migrant women living in Shanghai, China.

We examined the characteristics of 601 female migrants in Shanghai regarding stigmatizing attitudes toward people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted July and August 2008, using an anonymous questionnaire. Most participants (88%) were married, 9.2% reported multiple sexual partners, 19.1% knew about voluntary counseling and testing clinics, and 3.7% had been tested for HIV. About half (56.4%) agreed that people who acquire HIV/AIDS through sex or drug use deserve it. About 80% admitted that they were afraid of PLWHA. Low knowledge of HIV/AIDS, being older, low levels of education, and longer duration in Shanghai were correlates for having stigmatizing attitudes, while having premarital sex and/or multiple sex partners correlated with less stigma. HIV-related stigma among female migrants in Shanghai is common. Future stigma reduction prevention and intervention programs among female migrants should target those who are older, less educated, and have lived in Shanghai relatively longer.